DC: “We’re really pleased with our output.”

Ahead of the Milton Keynes Dons game Danny Cowley was very much his grounded self, attaching little relevance regarding The Imps quick-fire start to the season.

Southend Game: DC was pleased with the outcome incorporating the clean sheet and four goals. However, he was realistic enough to recognise there was nothing in it for the first 30 mins; Imps going ahead with their first chance. He was happy how City went on from there to score further, goals, take the game away from Southend and control the match. That was also helpful for pacing the demand on the squad ahead of some tough fixtures – i.e. win the game but ensure we are in the best physical condition thereafter. Throughout the game Southend only created one-half chance and had a couple of speculative shots with only 15 touches in Imps penalty area; the defence gave up no clear cut opportunities. Great front press from TW and JP ensured the pressure was taken off the defence. Additionally, there was only one foul and handball conceded which is an indicator that City were able to defend aggressively but within the rules.

MK Dons: MK Dons have added 10 or 12 players to what was already a very good squad with aggressive recruitment over the summer period including Boateng from Exeter, Bowery from Crewe and big money for Healey from Cardiff. They have unbelievable squad depth and competition over so many positions – 6 CB’s, 2 wing backs for each side, with lots of midfield options. Comparing the squads MK are numerically frightening so it’s a good thing football is 11 v 11. Paul Tisdale is so tactically aware as to throw a curveball every time but DC will be ready for it. ‘They’ do play an open expansive and well-spaced game where MK look to control through possession of the ball so it will be a big test both physically and mentally. There are good memories from the game last season and DC well remembers the phenomenal 6K support – there will not be as many there this year but asks for as many to go as possible. Stadium MK and its Premiership facilities are somewhere all look forward to playing at. LF and TP remain medium-term injuries so missing their experience and ability does make that a bit of a problem area of the pitch.

Who Are The League One Managers? No.13: Paul Tisdale (Milton Keynes Dons)

Start to the Season: DC was pleased with the continuing evolution to the style of play that he had implemented last season. It is important to keep adding to that without taking away other qualities. However, it has only been 6 points from two winnable home games bearing in mind that Accrington will get stronger as John Coleman adds loan player as the window end nears and Southend had some key players injured. It could be argued that Imps had returned two better than expected away performances but when all is said and done ‘we’ are only 3 points better off than hoped for, ‘that’s all it is’. DC has now had the chance to assess many of the other L1 teams and be in no doubt ‘we’ know there are much bigger and tougher challenges to come starting with the next two away games. DC invited the press to come back to him if Imps come through those 2 matches unscathed, with two more clean sheets and victories in the bag. What DC did note is that the team have as a group maximised their play and performances relative to their abilities with the trick now to find a way to consistently replicate that. DC hopes to build on the clean sheets recalling they were a feature of his Braintree season whereby that side kept a remarkable 27. As they started to rack up the numbers that motivated the players to keep getting more – everybody bought into that mentality.

Squad Harmony: All the players want to play – they’re footballers. They are paid to train and ensure they are physically and mentally fit to play if selected, that is the job of management. DC only wants players that have the will and desire to play every game so naturally, there is a lot of personal disappointment throughout the season and it is the responsibility of the players to not let that affect the team – it is always team first. DC plays by the rules dictating that he understands the demands over a full season and if everyone does their job properly the team will achieve their potential.

To that end, DC was having no weight attached to some individual’s observation that BA body language had been affected. He encouraged people to look closely at his reaction to his goal to see him celebrate and explained that Bruno left the pitch at the end as he had to go in and wanted to mentally prepare for the subs after match running which he hates. Bruno’s attitude is excellent and not only that look at the contribution and levels of performance he and JA have both made in terms of goals and assists from the bench and in the Huddersfield game.

Recruitment: There is no doubt the squad desperately need help and support. Ideally, DC would like another CB, LB, CM, winger and CF to give Imps a really competitive L1 squad but he knows that is not possible as DC will only work within the constraints that do not put the club at financial risk. He will have to work really hard to get the best possible players to complement what we have. Fortunately, his current players are high in quality and more importantly are high-quality human beings. DC relationship with the board is such that he knows exactly what ‘we’ need and reports to the board what he wants at the best value and they make a judgement on what is affordable. There will be some money from the Everton game but some people aren’t aware that profits from games like these are high as they expect when not factoring in expensive costs, particularly for games of this nature. Although there will be TV money DC observed that televising may reduce the gate – he hoped not as he would like a full house and that would definitely help the financial situation.

Writer: hulloutpost

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